EVs have many advantages over internal traditional vehicles since EVs have fewer moving parts and no oil changing fatigue; therefore, no owner has ever complained about its maintenance. But how do EVs perform when it comes to service costs? Well, that’s where the picture starts to change according to new data from analytics firm We Predict.
According to We Predict’s theory, an EV generally costs more than a traditional car. The entire research revolves around two basic points, i.e. service costs (when you take a vehicle in for repairs) and maintenance costs (wear and tear, fluid replacements). The company says it is more expensive to service electric cars than gasoline-powered vehicles, though the gap eventually narrows. Data reveals that EVs were 2.3 times more expensive to service than ICE vehicles after the first three months of ownership. At 12 months, EV service costs 1.6 times higher. This means that service-related costs averaged $306 per electric vehicle, while a gas-powered car averaged $189.
But how is that possible? Because the technology used in EVs is new for the automobile industry, service centres and mechanics take forever to comprehend the issues. On average, EV requires almost double labour hours and rates compared to traditional cars. Furthermore, the additional certifications needed to work on electric vehicles may contribute to these higher rates.
As per We Predict, the finer details are being worked out by the “industry in launch”, and as a result, the cost is going up presently. On the other hand, the maintenance costs are bridging the cost gap. It is startling to notice that the maintenance of the ICE vehicle is 30 $ in the first year, whereas it is 7 $ for the EV. It may be a fact that the cost of servicing an EV is more, but the vehicle’s maintenance is an added advantage that can not be ignored. To get more sustainable data, the analysts need to evaluate the EVs for a longer period of time on roads. The long-term benefits of the EVs will certainly outweigh the cost of the vehicles that may be incurred on a day-to-day basis.